Button-carding machine.



W. J. PUGH. BUTTON CARDING MACHINE.

No. 699,565. I Patented May 6, I902.

(Application filed. m 10, 1901. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 699,565. Patented May 6, I902. w. J. PUGH.

BUTTON CARDING MACHINE. (Appiication filed may 16, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shut 2.

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mus PETERS co PNOTO-LITNO vnsumarun n c No. 699,565. Patented May 6, I902.

W. J. PUGH.

BUTTON GARDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Kay 16, 1961.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 \\\\tiilmll lli m mm WITNESSES '0' YNVENTORJ No. 699,565. Patented May 6 I902.

W. J. PUGH.

BUTTON GABDING MAcHlNE.

v (Application filed May 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 sheets sheet 4.

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\VILLIAM J. PUGlI, QF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

BUTTON-CARDING MACHINE.

SPEQTLFIGAEIQEI forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,565, dated May 6, 1902.

Application tiled May 16, 1901.k

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. PUGH, of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Oarding Machines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this [0 specification. v

This invention is an improvement in button-carding machines; and its objectis to produce a machine wherein a number of buttons may be simultaneously secured to cards; and

to this end the invention comprises, first, means for feeding to the attaching devices enough buttons in"succession to form a row on the cardboard, and then stopping the feed' during the attaching operation; second,

means whereby thebuttons are allcaused to face in the same direction as they are fed to the attaching mechanism; third, means for automatically adjusting the buttons in position beneath the stapling mechanism, so that the staples or attaching devices will pass through the proper holes in the buttons fourth, means for simultaneously forming a plurality of staples; fifth, means. for simultaneously stapling a plurality of buttons to the card; sixth, means for clenching the staples after they are inserted through the buttons and card, and, finally, seventh, means for properly advancing the card after a row of buttons is fastened thereto. These several mechanisms and the relative combinations and operations thereof will be now explained in detail in connection with'the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete 40 machine. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine, partially in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line t 4,'Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail section through the button-facing de- 4; vice. Fig. 6 is a detail section through the feed-drum. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section through the stapling mechanism; Fig. 8, a section on line 8 8, Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a detail section on line 0 9, Fig. 7; Fig. 10, a detail view of the staple-clenching devices; Fig. 11, a detail view of the button-adjusting devices.

As shown, the machines are adapted to op- Serial No. 60,571. (No model.)

erate only on one size of buttons, and these are preferably disk-shaped buttons With four holes or perforations. The buttons are placed in quantities Within a hopper A, the bottom of which is formed by the periphery of a rotatable drum a, in the periphery of which are a series of recesses a, each conforming to and adapted to contain a single button. A circumferential groove d is made in the drum, intersecting and deeper than the recesses a, into which groove projects a stopping-finger A whichis located at the exit end of aclosed channel A, formed between the periphery of drum a and a curved wall A and through which channel'the buttons are successively passed during the rotation of the drum a. Drum a is mounted on a short shaft B, journaled in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine, and on this shaft is a ratchet B,

which is engaged by a pawl Z) on a yoked slide Z2, operated 'by a cam b on a shaft 0, journaled on the frame below and parallel with shaft B and to one side of the drum 66, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Shaft O has a small pinion O on one end, which is meshed at in tervals with a part gear D on the drivingshaft D, which is journaled on the frame parallel with and above shaft 0. Part gear D is of such size that it remains in mesh with pinion G for one-half revolution of shaft D, and during such time it imparts four revolutions to shaft C. Consequently drum a is moved four times, once for each revolution of shaft 0, and at each movement of drum a a button is fed forward to the attaching or staplingdevices. Duringtheremaininghalfrevolution of shaft D shaft 0 and drum aremain at rest, and in this period of time the attaching devices are operated to secure a row of buttons to the" card, as hereinafter ex' continuously by any suitable means during 5 pass into a horizontal guide-channel E, by

which they are directed into the staplingchamber E of the machine, in which chamber the buttons are attached to the cards, as hereinafter explained. Interposed in and forming part of channel E is a device for facing the buttons alike-that is, for turning over any button which comes into channel E wrong side up. This device consists of a rotatablecylinder F, journaled in line with shaft 0 and having a transverse slot F, conformable in cross-section to and forming part of the channel E, and on opposite sides of slot F clutcharmsf are pivoted to the cylinder, the inner ends of said arms being adapted to project centrally into slot F through suitable intersecting slots F '(See Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) The outer ends of said clutch-arms project beyond the inner end of the cylinder close to the periphery of a disk 0 on the adjoining end of shaft 0, the inner end of cylinder F being shown asjournaled in the hub of disk 0, which is keyed on the end of shaft 0. The outer ends of armsf are pressed apart by a spring f, which may pass through an opening in the hub of cylinder F. Projecting internally from the flange of disk 0 is a lug c, which is adapted to engage the lowermost clutch-arm fas the disk 0 rotates if said arm be displaced by reason of the improper (down- 5 wardly-facing) position ofa button therein.

The engagement of the lug c with the uppermost arm f is prevented by means of the camplate F which is attached to the frame and projects beside disk 0 in such position that 0 as the outer end of the clutch-arm passes thereunder it is forced down thereby until it is free of the lug c. The cam-plate F therefore.not only keeps the lug c from engaging the uppermost armf, but will also cause the 5 disengagement of said lug and the lower clutch-arm when cylinder F has made a halfrevolution. So long as the buttons enter slot F face uppermost, as in Fig. 3, the lowermost clutch-arm f will be keptout of posi- 0 tion to engage lug 0, although disk 0 will rotate with shaft 0. Consequently cylinder F will remain at rest; butshould a button enter slot F wrong side up, as in Fig. 5, the inner end of the lower clutch-arm will project into j rthe slot F and hollow of the button, which throws its outer end into position to engage lug c, and the lug c is so placed on disk 0, which is rotated with shaft 0, that it immediately engages the lower clutch-arm and turns cylinder F half over, bringing the button-face uppermost, as in Fig. 3, and thereupon cam-plate F causes the disengagement of the clutch-arm from the lug c, and cylinder F stops with slots F in line with channel E. The clutch-armf, engaging a'notch in plate F Fig. 2, holds thecylinder F in properposition, so that the buttons may be freely fed therethrough until another inverted button happens to enter, when the above operation is repeated, the cylinder F being turned halfway around each time abutton enters it wrong side up. The lug c is so located on disk 0 that the lower clutch-arm f will not be engaged should it happen to momentarily project into the slot F between two buttons, and the inner end of said arm will be forced out of the slot by the entry of a properly-facing button before lug 0 can engage it. After four buttons have been fed into the chamber E the feeding operations cease, and during the remaining half-revolution of shaft D the operations of attaching the buttons to the card are performed. 4

Directly over the chamber E the staple forming and driving mechanisms are located. As shown, there are four such mechanisms, constructed alike and operated simultaneously. The chamber E is located at the base of the casing G, containing such mechanisms, and in the front side of the casing are four equidistant wire feed and guide openings g, through which the stapling-wires h are fed. The wires h enter the casing and pass directly over anvils 7;, which are on the sides of hori-\ zontal bars l,that extend transversely through the casing (see Figs. 2, 4, and 8) and are connected to exterior bars I at the opposite sides of casing G. The casingis slotted at G G to permit the bars I to be moved back and forth, said bars being normally kept in position to bring the anvilsunder the Wires h by a spring 1 Fig. 8; but after the staples are formed and just prior to the driving operation the formers or anvils are pushed out of the way by means of the beveled cams 2' attached to the former, which cams engage the beveled ends t of bars I" and force the latter to move the anvils backward. When the former rises, the anvils are thrown forward to position by spring 1 After the wires hare entered above the anvils i, as in Fig. 4, the former descends and shapes the staples. This former consists of opposite plates J J, vertically movable in casing G and adapted to work on opposite sides of the anvils 2', being slotted, so as not to interfere with bars I. These plates J J are connected at each end by straps J to a cambox j, which incloses a cam j on a shaft N, journaled in suitable hearings on top of the casing G, as shown, When the former descends, it both severs the wires h and then, in conjunction with anvils i, forms them into U shape, the complete staples hanging on the anvils 1 until the latter are withdrawn and being then held between the sides of the former by reason of their resiliency until they are forced down by the driver. Supposing the buttons V to be in proper position and the staples W, formed as described, ready to be driven, the next operation is driving the staples, which is accomplished by the driver, comprising a series of heads K, one for each staple, all connected to a bar K within the casing, and said bar being connected at its ends by straps K to cam-yokes 70, which engage cams on shaft N, as shown. As before stated, the cams t are attached to the former, and as the latter descends these cams first force the anvils out of the way and then the driver descends and forces the staples through the buttons and card 8. (See Fig. 7.) The cardboard s is fed through chamber E, as hereinafter described, and the buttons are fed into the chamber on top of the cardboard, so that the staple-driver can operate as described. -While the driver is down, the staples are clenched by the device shown in Figs. 2, 7, and 10, which consists of two opposite bars L L, lying on suitable guides in the bottom of chamber E and connected at one end to opposite ends of a link Z, which is centrally pivoted on a fixed point Z, so that when one bar moves to the right the other moves to the left. One of bars L is connected to a cam-yoke L, which incloses a cam L on the lower end of a shaft M, which is driven by a bevel-gear M from a bevel N on shaft N, Fig. 2, cam L being so adjusted that it operates bars L at the proper times. The legs of the staples W project into notches Z in bars L. Consequently when the bars are moved these staples are clenched, thus fastening the buttons to the cards. The driver and former are then raised, the anvils spring back to operative position, and fresh lengths of wire are fedforward to form new staples. The wires are fed by means of rolls Q, Q from reels Q rolls Q being mounted on a common shaft g, which is provided with a ratchet q, engaged by a pawl g on a loose gear g that is operated by a rack-bar (1 which has a cam-yoke on one end engaging a .cam g on shaft N, as shown, Figs. 2 and 4E.

Shaft N is operated once for each revolution of shaft D and only during the half-revolution of shaft D when shaft C is stopped, the

shaft 0, controlling the feeding mechanisms, being at rest when the shaft N, controlling the stapling mechanisms, is moving, and vice versa. Shaft N is operated from shaft D by means of a large mutilated gear D engaging a small gear at on a counter-shaft 7t, carry ing a bevel-gear n meshing with a bevel N on shaft N. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The various cams are so arranged on shaft N as to impart the desired movements to the wirefeeders, former, and drivers and at the proper times, so that the parts operate in proper sequence.

It is necessary that the buttons be properly positioned beneath the staples, so that the points of the latter will pass through the eyes of the buttons, and this is accomplished for four-hole buttons by the simple means illustrated in Figs. 4, 9, and 11. At one side of chamber E is a longitudinal bar 0, against which the edges of the buttons in the chamber impinge. One end of this bar extends out of the chamber and is provided with a rack O, which is adapted to be engaged by a part gear m on shaft M, said gear being so placed and timed that it will pull bar 0 outward as or during the time that the buttons are entering the chamber E and will release the bar after the buttons are entered therein, whereupon a spring 0 draws bar 0 suddenly back, causing it to rotate the buttons on their axes within the chamber. To facilitate this rotation of the buttons, small rollers 0 0 may be arranged on the bar 0, forming the opposite sides of chamber E, as indicated in Fig. 10. When the buttons turn to proper position, they are caught by the fingers p of button-catches P, which are pivoted on a common shaft P at the rear side of the casing, as shown in Fig. 4:, and their fingers project into the chamber through slots in the rear side of the casing and are bent down, so as to engage two of the holes in the buttons, as indicated in Fig. 11, and hold the buttons in proper position during the stapling operation. After the buttons are stapled button-catches P are lifted by means of cams P on a transverse shaft R, underlying said catches, and held up long enough to permit the stapled row of buttons to be moved out of the chamber and a new lot of buttons to be fed therein. Then the button-catches are lowered and pressed down by means of springs P so as to quickly engage and hold the buttons when turned to proper position thereunder. Shaft R is operated by means of sprocket R and chain R from a sprocket N on shaft N. Four-hole buttons V are shown,

and the fingers of the catches engage two diagonally opposite holes of each button while the staples are passed through the other two intermediate holes thereof. The bar 0, forming the rear side wall of chamber E, has to be moved out of the way in order to allow the card of buttons to be advanced after each stapling operation. For this purpose arms 0' are attached to shaft R in such position that at the proper time they engage lugs 0 on the ends of bar 0 and raise the latter, and while bar 0 is so lifted momentarily the card 3 is advanced sufficiently to remove the last row of stapled buttons from the chamber. Then bar 0 is dropped and a fresh row of buttons fed into the chamber.

The cardboard .9 may be fed from a roll S at the front of the machine and passes under bars 0 0 and above bars L L. It also passes under shaft R and is moved or fed by means of star or spur wheels T T, mounted on a shaft T, provided with ratchets t, engaged by dogs If on slides 25 which are pushed forward at the proper time, so as to actuate the star-wheels, by cams t on shaft R, slides tbeing retractedby springs t arranged as shown. The cardboard s is fed forward as The machine is then started. During the first half-revolution of shaft D the vshaft ,O, is rotated four times and through the proper connections four buttons are fed into the chamber E, and if any buttonhappened to be fed into the button-facing device F wrong side up it is reversed, as above described. Then shaft 0 comes to rest and shaft N is given one revolution duringv the remaining half-revolution ofshaft D. During the rotation of shaft N the button-catches P are lowered and bar 0 is caused to joggle or turn the buttons, so thatthey are caught and held in properstapling position by the button-catches P, and the proper lengths of wire to form the staples are fed in. Then the former descends and shapes the staples. Next the anvils are withdrawn. Then the driver descends and forces the formedstaples through the buttons and cardboard. Then bars L L are moved to clench the staples. Then the driver and former are lifted and the button-catches and bar 0 raised and the cardboard fed forward a proper distance to remove the stapled row of buttons out of the way. Then bar 0 is lowered and shaft N comes toa rest, while shaft 0 is again started, and the cycle of operations of feeding and stapling are repeated in alternation continually in approximately the order specified. It will be noted that all the operations are automatically performed, and it is obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement of parts within the, scopelof my invention, and I do not confinemyself exclusively to the specific construction shown.

Segregable novel mechanisms or parts of the machine may be utilized in other machines, and I desire to protect what is novel herein wherever employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is

1. In a button facing or turning device, the combination of a slotted member through which the buttons are successively passed, a rotating member beside the slotted member, and clutch mechanism controlled by the passage of buttons through the slot, whereby the slotted member is locked to the rotating member for a half-revolution, upon the entrance of an inversely-facing button 'into the slot, substantially as described.

2. In a button facing or turning device, the combination of arotatable cylinder having a transverse slot through which the buttons are successively passed, a rotating lug beside the cylinder, clutch-arms pivoted to the cylinder on-opposite sides of the slot and adapted to project into the latter if an improperly-facing button enters it, and thereupon to be engaged by the lug, and a cam-plate for disengaging the clutch-arm from the lug when the cylinder has made a half-revolution, for the purpose and substantially as described.

3. The combination with the feed-drum, and the feed-channel, of a cylinder interposed in the channel and having a slot forming a part of said channel, a pair of clutch-levers pivoted to the cylinder on opposite sides of and having their inner ends projecting into said slot, a spring for forcing the outer ends of said clutch -ar1ns apart, and a rotatable disk beside the cylinder, having alug adapted to engage a clutch-arm when the latter is displaced by the entry of an improperly-facing button into the slot, and a fixed camplate beside the disk adapted to cause the clutch-arm to disengage the lug when the cylinder has made a half-revolution, for the purpose and substantially as described.

. 4. The combination of the feed-hopper, the drum having its periphery forming the bottom thereof provided with a series of recesses adapted to contain buttons, and a circumferential peripheral groove intersecting the recesses; with a stripper for forcing the buttons out of the recesses into said channel.

5. The combination in a button-carding machine, of means for attaching buttons to the card; with a feed-hopper, a feed-drum having peripheral recesses for removing buttons from the hopper, and an intersecting peripheral groove and a channel for conducting buttons from the drum to the attaching mechanism, and means for periodically imparting a series of step-by-step movements to the drum, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a button-carding machine, of means for attaching buttons to the card, a feed-hopper, and a feed-drum having peripheral recesses for taking buttons from the hopper, and a peripheral groove intersecting the recesses; with a channel for conducting buttons from the drum to the attaching mechanism, a button-stripper beside said channel projecting into the peripheral channel in the drum, and means for imparting a series of step-by-sfep movements to the drum, andv then allowing it to remain at rest while the attaching mechanisms operate substantially as described.

7. In a button-carding machine, the combination of means for attaching disk-shaped buttons to cards, and button-feeding mechanism; with a movable bar adapted to engage the peripheries of the buttons and turn them on their axes to bring them into proper position for engagement of the attaching devices, substantially as described.

8. In a button-carding machine, the combination of a chamber to contain the buttons during the attaching operations having a movable side wall; with mechanism whereby said wall is moved out of the way to permit the removal of the carded buttons from the chamber, substantially as described.

. 9. In a button-carding machine the combination of a chamber to contain the buttons during the carding operation, said chamber having a movable rear wall, and mechanism for feeding a card through said chamber; with mechanism for attaching buttons to the card while in said chamber, and means for raising the movable wall of said chamber to permit the card to be advanced with the carded buttons, substantially as described.

10. Inabutton-cardingmachine,thecombination of button-feeding mechanisms, and a shaft for operating the same once for each revolution; the button attaching mechanisms, a second shaft for operating the latter once during each revolution thereof, and a main shaft adapted to be continuously driven; with gearing whereby the first shaft is operated a number of times from and during a half-revolution of said main shaft, and gearing whereby said second shaft is operated once from and during a half-revolution of the main shaft, said first shaft and its mechanisms being idle when said second shaft and its mechanisms are in operation, and vice versa.

11. Inabutton-cardingmachine,thecombination of button-feeding mechanism and a shaft for operating the same once for each revolution; the card-feeding mechanism, staple-forming mechanism andbutton-attaching mechanisms, a second shaft for operating the latter mechanisms once during each revolution thereof, and a main shaft adapted to be continuously driven; with gearing whereby the first shaft is operated four times from and during a half-revolution of said main shaft, and stopped during the remaining portion of the revolution thereof; and gearing whereby the second shaft is operated once from and during the half-revolution of the main shaft and stopped during the completion of the revolution thereof; said first shaft and its mechanisms being idle when said second shaft and its mechanisms are in operatiomand vice versa, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of means for simultaneouslystaplinga number of buttons to cards; with a single button feeding feed device adapted to feed the proper number of buttons one by one in succession to the stapling means while the latter is at rest until the desired number is fed in, and then stopping the feeding operation during the stapling operation, substantially as described.

13. The combination of a plurality of stapling devices for simultaneously attaching a plurality of buttons to cards; with a single feed device adapted to feed a predetermined number of buttons one at a time to the at taching devices while the latter are idle, the stapling and feeding operations occurring alternately.

14. The combination of means for simultaneously forming a plurality of staples, and a plurality of devices for simultaneously driving the said staples into a card; with a single feed device adapted to feed one button at a time to the stapling device until the desired number of buttons is fed thereto, substantially as described.

15. The combination of mechanism for simultaneously forming a plurality of staples, means for feeding an imperforate card therepast, and a plurality of devices for simultaneously driving the said staples through the card; with a single feed device and means for operating it repeatedly to feed a plurality of buttons one at a time onto the card until the desired number are in position to be secured thereto by the staples, substantially described.

16. In a button-carding machine, the combination of card-feedingmechanisms, stapleforming mechanism, a plurality of devices for simultaneously attaching a plurality of staples to the card; with a single feed device and mechanism for causing said device to feed a plurality of buttons one by one successively into position beneath the several attaching devices to be subsequently simultaneously attached to the card substantially as described.

17. In a button-carding machine, the combination of card-feeding mechanism, and a plurality of devices for simultaneously attaching a plurality of staples to the card; with a single feed device and mechanism for causing such device to feed a predetermined number of buttons one at a time in position to be simultaneously secured to the card by the staples, substantially as described.

18. In a button-carding mechanism, the combination of button-feeding mechanism, a rotatable button-facing device through which the buttons are fed, and button-adjusting mechanism; with staple-driving mechanism, and staple-clench mechanism, substantially as described.

19. In a button-carding machine, the combination of a single feeding device, means for causing said device to feed a predeten mined number of buttons one by one, and means for adjusting such buttons in a row on the card in position for attachment thereto; with means for simultaneously forming a number of wire staples, means for simultaneously driving the staples through the row of buttons and card to attach them to the latter, substantially as described.

20. In a button-cardingmachine, the'combination of a single device for feedinga predetermined number of buttons one by one to the stapling mechanism, a rotatable device for facing the buttons alike as they are fed, and means for assembling the buttons in a row on a card for attachment thereto; with mechanism for simultaneously driving staples through the row of buttons to attach them to the card, the series of buttons being fed af ter the stapling operatiomsubstantially as described.

21. In a button-carding machine, the combin ation of card-feeding mechanisms, asingle device for feeding buttons one by one to the stapling mechanism, mechanism for facing the buttons alike as fed, button-adjusting IIO mechanism, and button-holding mechanism; with Wire-feeding mechanism, staple-forming mechanism, staple-driving mechanism, and staple-clenching mechanism, substantially as described.

22. In a button-carding machine, the combination of card-feeding mechanism, a single feed device, means for causing said device to "feed a predetermined number of buttons one by one onto the card, and means for adjusting the buttons in a row on the card in posi-' tion for attachment thereto; with means for simultaneously forming a number of Wire staples, means for simultaneously driving the staples through the roW of buttons and card to attach them to the card, and means for clenching the staples, substantially as described.

23. In a button-carding machine, the combination of card-feeding mechanism, a single button-feed device, mechanism for causing said device to feed a number of buttons one by one onto the card, means for automatically facing the buttons alike as fed, and means for assembling the but-tons in a row on the card for attachment thereto; with mechanism forsimultaneouslyforminganumber of staples, mechanism for simultaneously driving the staples through the card and a row of buttons thereon to attach them to the card, and means for simultaneously clenching the staples, substantially as described.

24:. In a machine for carding four-hole buttons, the combination of means for attaching buttons to cards, the fixed and movable guidebars for turning the buttons ontheir axes and holding them in proper position for engagement by the fastening devices, and the pivoted catches for locking the buttons in such position until secured to the card, substantially as described.

25. In a button-carding machine the combination of means for attaching disk-shaped perforated buttons to cards, and button-feeding mechanism; with the movable bar 0 for turning the buttons on their axes to proper position for engagement by the fastening devices, and the pivoted catches P having downwardly-bent fingers adapted to engage the perforations in the buttons and hold them in position While being stapled to the card, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM PUGH.

\Vitnesses:

O. P. BROWN, G. I. LINDSEY. 

